Fly Agaric – Toadstool

These mushrooms are native to British Columbia, although originally from the more northerly areas than Vancouver where we live.
They are now reported to be all around the world and were probably spread as a side-effect of forest exports.
This is a toxic mushroom, it was once used to prepare an insecticide and this is the origin of its name.
When it emerges from the ground, around mid-autumn, the cap is small, round and almost completely white.
Once above ground, the cap grows rapidly and the white covering breaks up into the scales seen here. These scales can wash off in the rain.

This picture is a crop of the original image, we originally had a vertical composition but now prefer this tighter, horizonal view.

The camera recorded the following information in the original image file:

Hasselblad H3DII-50

2011/10/23 3:48:43 PM

Color

Data Format:

RAW (16-bit)

Compression:

Lossless

Image Size:

Large (8176 x 6132)

Lens:

Hasselblad HC 120mm macro

Focal Length:

120mm

Exposure Mode:

Manual

Metering Mode:

Spot

1/2 sec - F/22

Exposure Comp.:

0 EV

Flash Mode:

Not attached

Sensitivity:

ISO 50

Color Mode:

Hasselblad RGB

Hue Adjustment:

0

Gerald & Irmgard Carter

White Balance:

6000K

AF Mode:

Manual

Tone Comp:

Normal

Saturation:

Normal

Sharpening:

None

Long Exposure NR:

Off

High ISO NR:

Off

You can zoom in on this image to see the detail in the full image,
however this is highly compressed and the original has better contrast and sharpness.